Balochistan: Why it Remains a Flashpoint and China's Gwadar Pullback Signals

• China has suspended ground operations and pulled personnel from Gwadar port due to escalating militant attacks in Balochistan, highlighting the province's instability.
• Gwadar, a key part of CPEC and China's Belt and Road Initiative, offers Beijing access to the Arabian Sea but faces repeated attacks from separatist groups.
• Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and resource-rich province, suffers from decades of insurgency, political alienation, and economic deprivation, fueling militant groups like the BLA.
• The conflict stems from historical grievances, including the forced merger into Pakistan in 1948 and subsequent political centralisation, resource disputes, and alleged human rights abuses.
• China's Gwadar pullback is a protective measure and a diplomatic signal, urging Pakistan to provide lasting security for CPEC projects and Chinese investments.